Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-01

test reports of current events. He is expected Il
answer readily and correctly, all abstruse Ques
tOns of mental, physical and ethical science, as
ticket agent at union depot is expected to tell the
arrival, departure and destruction of trains. He
is sometimes asked to tell, not only the drift Of
popular thought, and the result of political meas
ure; but to suggest decisive steps which will change
the destiny and prevent the impending ruin OF such
course. There are questions never sub
nitted to his decision. If town are village meet
ing is called, 10 discuss the best plans of fnancia
improvement, to hear the proposition OF subsidie:
for a new rail road being projected from distant
city and heading in that direction, the teacher is
never consulted yet he does not feel sighted for he
has neither bonds real estate upon which take:
may he levied or increased.
Such view of the worker seems to emenate from
the sordid feelings of disgusted critic but do moi
deride my fellow workers. \ better understand
ing OF his hopes, efforts and aims make those re-
ectiOns supercilious. His sphere OF action is not
understood, hence he is looked upon by the COM
munity with that same reserved gaze that it does
upon the artist beside his painting the sculptor
his finished statuary. y vision of the shepherd OF
oriental countries, leading his ocks over the hills
and plains of the east land has thrilled me from
early bOybood with the keenest feelings OF rever.
ence which almost approaches envy. Through
the mountain fasteness their rougher slopes OF
III the green valleys, he is the leader OF cOndine
flock which share in solitude has portion of the
earth's bliss, without word of appreciation: but
hat quiet gaze of confidence from dumb animals.
This lite raj vision transforms itself into figure
in the person of the worker. Away from the din OF
business in towns and Villages the quiet school
building on the elevation; over the prairie to the
lone school house, the teacher leads q foak more
expressive of appreciation, and no less cOnfdng.
Though he il believed 10 be an ''hireng, who see
ing the wolf coming, fees, because he is an hrl-
ing" But "legion" is the of the school
officers who in times of his troubles wrest from him
his weapons, and say 'depart i'll peace" while they
dismiss the school and stay the ravages of the
typical destroyer. But we may say of him while
he is leader alone in dry solitary place. OF in the
shadow of a mountain; "Daily with souls that
crnge and plot. he Snais climbs and knows it not
We can not dismiss the worker without consider
ing some of the elements which make his work :,
success. The fifth Biennial report of Kansas, shows
the approximate number OF teachers in the eighteen
central counties, TO be 1,62O. OF this number, at
least 400, young ladies and gentlmen who are
fighting alone the battles of life They do not be-
long to the generation whose emblem OF speed was
the saddle, and whose ''day began with the dawn,
instead Of the arrival of he train" Progress" " rs
Victor Hugo defines it, "the permanent growth of
the people, is their motto Many of them are fresh
from their studies.in the classroom Full of en-
thusiasm, the first element Of success and capable
of entering into the sympathies OF young minds
while developing them; they are of the class of
whom Dr. Holmes recently said: New ideas build
their nests in young brains. Revolutions are not
made by men in spectacles, and the whisperings of
new truths are not caught by those who begin to
feel the need OF an ear trumpet" That may not
a L
will say that so long the teacher is en thusiastc
and retains that mental power and disposition to
place himself on equality with young, minds, he
is NOT old; though age may have crowned his brow
with many marks of labOring years.
Supt, Z. f. White, of Cincinnati, once said, TO
the teachers OF Ohio: "When the gray so tips this
head of mine to put out he fire of enthusiasm
shall quit the work"
1t, then, our workers young we baVe hope.
BUT there are other elements essential 10 success
broad culture. The door must be closed against
those who try enter the work without due prepa-
ration. Beside that scholarship covering the
branches required for certificates but little general
knowledge is sought or obtained. No breadth OF in
formation is undertaken. As a result at the end OF
the term, the teacher secretly prefers to engage
other school, because he has used all his best meth
odS, repeated his gems OF poetry, lis Historical
member, 30 his own lack Of culture drives him tc
another position, where the methods and repe-
titiOns will be fresh and new. Such is not success
Let there be that general culture and thorough
preparation OF our teachers, that can not be ex-
hausted in a single term; but, year by year, grow
stronger and abroaden in the same school, Then
the ''dead line' will be removed from the close oi
the ii rst year.
q be- n a
ton to the work, his own individuality is the
strongest implement. In its proper employment il
is like the delicate brush OF the artist which tint.
the whole canvass with shading coors, and gives il
that mellow radient, or sOmber hue which awak-
ems admiration, produces the emotions of feal
and dread in the mind of the beholder. AS he
stands before his class daily he teaches more than
law requires. Has he strong belief in God? Thai
fact will uninentally ipd its way out through the
honest problems OF mathemat ics through design
in geographical and historical studies, through
adaptation in plant and animal life, and, through
the harmony of all truths Is he a skeptic: He ear
not hide it. His apathy for design, his agnostiC
views. his basis OF reasoning and sarcastic remarks
influence belief and awaken doubt. Is he neutral OF
moral questions? His neutrality but leaves his pu-
pills in indifference. His personality is reflected il
his pupils. His enthusiasm. general culture schol
aTship and natural gifts may make him effective a
instructor, hut his individuality impresses the
charater. Some one has said: GA professor VIII.
does not impress his students more 10y his pres
ence and character than by his methods and learn
ing, is not tit for the class Toom The noted teach
ers of the world have become so because they wer
noble characters. The scholarship OF Thomas Ar
mold, and other great teachers perhaps inferio
to many OF the undistinguished pedagoguesof on
State: but eoEnplete manhood, made impress OF
the pupils, deep, it could never be erased. Th
teacher should be greater than The subject taught.
! Here We Turn from the worker 10 the work
Were We 10 limit it to the eighteen counties. includ
/ ed in the Central Kansas Teachers Association "
should turn to the statistics OF 1856 and find 12e
organized DISTRICTS 45 graded and 1880 ungrade,
schools, 65,314 children of the rsehoolastic age